Protective enclosure and watertight adapter for an interactive flat-panel controlled device

ABSTRACT

A protective enclosure is disclosed for an interactive flat-panel control device. The protective enclosure is watertight, crush-resistant, and impact-resistant. An electrical adapter may disposed within the protective enclosure and covered with an elastomeric covering that permits a connector of the adapter to flex with respect to the lower shell of the enclosure so that the connector may easily be inserted into an interface jack of the electronic device. The elastomeric covering also provides a watertight seal that enables the protective enclosure to be submersibly watertight. While providing protection, the protective enclosure simultaneously allows smooth and accurate interaction with the interactive flat-panel controlled device. The protective enclosure has a protective membrane that permits RF and touch screen stylus inputs, as well as capacitance, such as from a finger, to be transmitted accurately to the flat-panel control. The hardness and texture of the protective membrane allows a stylus or finger to glide smoothly along the surface of the membrane without catching or sticking. The protective enclosure is further adapted to allow infrared and other communication signals while the device is secured inside the case. Further, electrical connections can be made through the case without affecting the protection afforded the electronic device inside. The protective enclosure may have a removable cable management belt clip that has a flange that retains and prevents entangling of an accessory cable for the interactive flat-panel control device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/077,963 entitled “Protective Enclosure and Watertight Adapter for AnInteractive Flat-Panel Controlled Device” by Curtis R. Richardson, etal., filed Mar. 10, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,180,735.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/077,963 is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/937,048 entitled “ProtectiveEnclosure for an Interactive Flat Panel Controlled Device” by Curtis R.Richardson, et al., filed Sep. 8, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,158,376.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/937,048 is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/645,439 entitled “ProtectiveMembrane for a Touch Screen Device” by Curtis R. Richardson, filed Aug.20, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,976.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/645,439 is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/300,200 entitled “Protective Case forTouch Screen Device” by Curtis R. Richardson, filed Nov. 19, 2002, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,646,864 which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/335,865 filed Nov. 19, 2001by Curtis R. Richardson entitled “Protective Case for Touch ScreenDevice.” The entire contents of all of the above mentioned applicationsare hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference for all theydisclose and teach.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains generally to protective cases andspecifically to protective cases for electronic devices that have aninteractive flat-panel control.

b. Description of the Background

Personal Digital Assistants, or PDAs as well as other portableelectronic devices such as Apple iPods, and other similar devices, thatstore and play MP3 data, are being very widely used, and are beingdeployed in industrial as well as office environments.

The industrial environments, as well as normal use, can impose harshconditions that typical handheld electronic devices are not designed toaccommodate. For example, damage can be done to such devices throughrough handling and dropping. Further, liquids, chemicals, grease, water,dirt, and grime may damage or destroy a functioning handheld electronicdevice or otherwise inhibit the use of the device.

Handheld electronic devices may be connected to earphones or to otheraccessories. The handheld electronic device may be directly connectedusing a wire connection, wherein a cable with a connector physicallyconnects to the device. Cables or connectors that permit liquid to passfrom the outside of the protective enclosure to the inside of theprotective enclosure may make the enclosure unsuitable for applicationswhere a watertight connection is required or desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of theprior art by providing a protective enclosure that protects a handheldelectronic device and permits accessories to be electrically connectedto the handheld device when the handheld device is enclosed within theprotective enclosure.

The invention may therefore comprise a protective enclosure for ahandheld device having an interactive flat-panel control comprising: anupper shell and a lower shell that are hingedly connected, said uppershell and said lower shell enclosing said handheld electronic device,said handheld electronic device being a separate unit from saidprotective enclosure, said handheld electronic device being insertablein and removable from said enclosure by hand, said shell beingsubstantially submersibly watertight when closed, said enclosure havingat least one hinge pivot stop that constrains opening of said uppershell to a maximum predetermined angle; a protective membrane disposedwithin said upper shell, said protective membrane being at leastpartially transparent so that said interactive flat-panel control isvisible through said protective membrane, said membrane beingsufficiently thin and textured to permit significantly smoothinteractive tactile control of said flat-panel control of said handheldelectronic device; an adapter disposed within said protective enclosure,said adapter having an internal connector that is capable ofelectrically connecting to said handheld electronic device, said adapterhaving an external connector that is capable of being electricallyconnected to an accessory for said handheld electronic device, saidinternal connector being electrically connected to said externalconnector so that when said accessory is electrically connected to saidexternal connector said accessory is also electrically connected to saidinternal connector and to said handheld electronic device; and anelastomeric covering that covers and substantially surrounds saidinternal connector and said external connector of said adapter, saidelastomeric covering holding said internal connector and said externalconnector in place within enclosure, said elastomeric coveringpermitting said internal connector to tilt within a predetermined rangeof angles so that said internal connector easily connects to saidhandheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device isinserted into said protective enclosure within a range of predeterminedangles, said elastomeric covering maintaining said protective enclosuresubstantially submersibly watertight when said handheld electronicdevice is enclosed within said protective enclosure.

The invention may further comprise an electrical adapter for asubmersibly watertight protective enclosure for a handheld electronicdevice comprising: at least one internal connector that is adapted toconnect to an interface of the handheld electronic device, the internalconnector adapted to be at least partially disposed within the enclosureand to connect to the interface within the enclosure when the enclosureis closed in a submersibly watertight manner; at least one externalconnector that is adapted to connect to an accessory for the handheldelectronic device, the external connector adapted to be at leastpartially disposed within the enclosure and to connect to the accessorythat is outside of the enclosure when the enclosure is closed in asubmersibly watertight manner; cabling that is disposed within theenclosure that electrically connects the internal connector to theexternal connector; and an elastomeric covering that at least partiallysurrounds and provides a watertight seal around a portion of theinternal connector and the external connector and the enclosure so thatthe enclosure is submersibly watertight when the enclosure is closed,the elastomeric covering being flexible so that the internal connectormay be deflected at an angle that facilitates connection of theconnector to the interface of the electronic device.

The invention may further comprise a method of manufacturing asubmersibly watertight enclosure with an accessory adapter for ahandheld electronic device comprising: providing a upper shell and alower shell that form a protective enclosure, the upper shell and thelower shell being hingedly connected, the upper shell and the lowershell being capable of enclosing the handheld electronic device, thehandheld electronic device being a separate unit from the upper shelland the lower shell, the handheld electronic device being insertable inand removable from the upper shell and the lower shell by hand, theshell being substantially submersibly watertight when closed, theenclosure having at least one hinge pivot stop that constrains openingof the upper shell to a maximum predetermined angle; disposing anadapter at least partially within the protective enclosure, the adapterhaving an internal connector that is capable of electrically connectingto an interface of a handheld electronic device, the adapter having anexternal connector that is capable of being electrically connected to anaccessory for the handheld electronic device, the internal connectorbeing electrically connected to the external connector so that when theaccessory is electrically connected to the external connector theaccessory is also electrically connected to the internal connector andto the interface of the handheld electronic device; at least partiallycovering the adapter with an elastomeric covering that forms asubmersibly watertight seal around the adapter so that the enclosure issubmersibly watertight when the enclosure is close, the elastomericcovering being flexible to that the internal connector may deflected atan angle to facilitate connection of the internal connector to theinterface of the handheld electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown inthe closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown inthe open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown inan exploded state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shownfrom the rear.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention, showing asection line.

FIG. 6 is a section view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a section shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment comprising a singlepiece encapsulating cover.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment comprising anon-encapsulating snap over cover.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment that comprises a beltclip.

FIG. 11 is a second perspective view of an embodiment that comprises abelt clip.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention of a protective cover for a PDA or other device.

FIG. 13A is a perspective top view of another embodiment of a protectiveenclosure for a tablet PC.

FIG. 13B is a view of the protective enclosure lid of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 is a perspective top view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A with anopen lid.

FIG. 15 is a perspective bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the base of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a protective enclosurefor an interactive flat-panel controlled device.

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a protectiveenclosure for an interactive flat-panel controlled device.

FIG. 19A is an oblique view of another embodiment of a protectiveenclosure for an interactive flat-panel controlled device with theprotective enclosure having an integrated watertight electrical adapter.

FIG. 19B is an oblique view of another embodiment of a protectiveenclosure for an interactive flat-panel controlled device with theprotective enclosure having an integrated watertight electrical adapter.

FIG. 20 illustrates an electrical adapter with internal plug and anexternal jack disposed within the protective enclosure of the embodimentof FIG. 19A.

FIG. 21 illustrates an elastomeric covering for the electrical adapterof the embodiment of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 illustrates hinge pivot stops of the protective enclosure ofFIG. 19A in the open position at a maximum angle.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the protective enclosure of the embodimentof FIG. 19A having a single external jack.

FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the protective enclosure having two externaljacks.

FIG. 25 illustrates a removable cable management belt clip for theprotective enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 19A with the belt clipattached to the protective enclosure.

FIG. 26 illustrates a removable cable management belt clip for theprotective enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 19A with the belt clipremoved from the protective enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.Embodiment 100 comprises a rigidly molded front case 102 and rear case104. An overmolded grommet 106 forms a receptacle for stylus 108 andalso aids in sealing membrane 110. A flexible hand strap 112 attaches tothe rear case 104. A hinge 114 joins front case 102 and rear case 104. Aring 124 for a lanyard is shown as an integral feature of rear case 104.

Embodiment 100 is designed to hold a conventional personal digitalassistant (PDA) in a protective case. A PDA, such as a Palm Pilot,Handspring Visor, Compaq Ipaq, Hewlett Packard Jornada, or similarproducts use a touch screen for display and data entry. The touch screendisplay comprises either a color or black and white liquid crystaldisplay with a touch sensitive device mounted on top of the display. Thedisplay is used for displaying graphics, text, and other elements to theuser. The touch screen is used with a stylus 108 to select elements fromthe screen, to draw figures, and to enter text with a characterrecognition program in the PDA. The stylus 108 generally resembles aconventional writing implement. However, the tip of the writingimplement is a rounded plastic tip. In place of a stylus 108, the usermay use the tip of a finger or fingernail, or a conventional pen orpencil. When a conventional writing implement is used, damage to thetouch screen element may occur, such as scratches.

For the purposes of this specification, the term PDA shall include anyelectronic device that has a touch screen interface. This may includeinstruments such as voltmeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and anyother handheld, bench top, or rack mounted instrument that has a touchscreen interface. Handheld devices, such as cell phones, satellitephones, telemetric devices, and other handheld devices are also to beclassified as PDAs for the purposes of this specification. The term PDAshall also include any computer terminal display that has a touch screeninterface. These may comprise kiosks, outdoor terminal interfaces,industrial computer interfaces, commercial computer interfaces and othercomputer displays. Additionally, the term PDA may comprise barcodescanners, handheld GPS receivers, and other handheld electronic devices.The foregoing description of the term PDA has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, andother modifications and variations may be possible in light of theteachings of this specification.

In addition, the PDAs typically have a handful of additional buttons aspart of the user interface. These buttons are generally on the front ofthe device, near the touch screen element. The additional buttons may beused as shortcut buttons to instantly call up a certain program on thePDA, may comprise a method of scrolling, may be used to select itemsfrom a list, or may have any function that the designer of the PDAsoftware may assign to the button or set of buttons. The button size,layout, and function may vary for each manufacturer and model of PDA.

Further, PDAs typically have at least one method of connecting toanother computer. This may be through a direct electrical connection,such as through a wire cable or fiber optic, or through another mediumsuch as infrared communication or through a radio communication.

Additionally, the PDAs typically have an electrical source. Theelectrical source may be a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery orsolar cells. The electrical source may be a remote source of electricitythat is transmitted to the PDA through a wire cable or through othermethods of electrical transmission.

Further, PDAs may have indicator lights, such as status lights forpower, communication, battery status, or other functions. The lights maybe located on any of the sides of the PDA and may be viewable on one ormore sides.

Front case 102 and rear case 104 form a protective cover for the PDA.The protective cover may be designed for rugged industrial use,recreational use, commercial use, or many other uses. An industrial usemay require the protective cover to be watertight, chemically resistant,protect the unit when dropped, and be crush proof. A typical applicationmay be for fire fighters to use a PDA for a display of maps fordirections to an emergency scene or for a building plan at the scene ofa fire. Another example may be a maintenance mechanic in a chemicalplant using a PDA to record maintenance records in the plant thatprocesses. A recreational use may require the cover to be watertight,afford some protection against dropping and being crushed, float inwater, and be dust resistant. A recreational use may be to take the PDAduring kayaking, diving, or other water sport activity. Further, thecase may be used when the PDA is taken camping, hiking, or other outdooractivity. A commercial use may additionally require the protective coverto be elegant, but may also require the cover to be replaceable so thatscratches and other signs of wear and tear can be easily and cheaplyreplaced.

The protective cover for the PDA may take on many embodiments. Theembodiment 100 comprises a front case 102 and rear case 104 that arejoined by a hinge 114 and a clasp mechanism that is on the side of thecases opposite the hinge 114. Other embodiments may have a small doorinto which the PDA slides, or the protective cover may not completelyenclose the PDA and only cover the face where the user interface exists,leaving one or more sides of the PDA exposed. Those skilled in the artmay use other designs of protective covers without deviating from thescope and intent of the present invention.

The protective cover may be constructed of rigid plastic, metal,flexible rubber, or any other type of material that could be adapted toafford the protection of the PDA desired for the application. Forexample, a metal cover may be used in an application where an elegantstyle is necessary but watertightness is not. A flexible rubber covermay be selected for an application in a wet environment. A rigid plasticcover may be selected for an application where dropping the PDA is aconcern. Those skilled in the art may use other types of materials andconstructions without deviating from the spirit of the presentinvention.

The PDA may be mounted in the protective cover using many differentmounting techniques. For example, the PDA may be mounted using open orclosed cell foam inserts in the protective cover. In another embodiment,the PDA may be mounted by attaching the PDA to the cover with afastener. In another embodiment, the PDA may be mounted by snapping intothe protective waterproof cover. In another embodiment, the PDA may beheld in place by resting in molded features of two halves of aprotective case that clamps onto the PDA. Those skilled in the art mayuse other types of locating and holding mechanisms without deviatingfrom the spirit of the present invention.

The overmolded grommet 106 of the present embodiment is constructed byinjection molding a thermoplastic polymerized rubber (TPR) over thefront case 102. The grommet 106 has molded features 116 and 118 adaptedto retain the stylus 108. Features 116 and 118 capture the stylus 108during transportation, but allow the user to remove the stylus 108 tooperate the PDA. In other embodiments of the present invention, thestylus 108 may be constrained to the PDA with a tether or lanyard, orthe constraining features may be incorporated into other components thatmake up the protective cover. Further, the stylus 108 may not be presentin the embodiment, rather, the PDA be adapted to be used with the user'sfingernail or with another implement similar to the stylus 108.

The membrane 110 of the present embodiment is constructed bythermoforming a sheet of thin plastic. The plastic is selected to bethin enough that the deformation of a stylus conducts the touch to thetouch screen, but thick enough to have enough rigidity that the stylusdoes not catch and rip the membrane. Additionally, the membrane 110should have enough thickness to endure scratches and other wear and tearwithout breaking and sacrificing the protective function.Polyvinylchloride material at 0.010 in to 0.015 in thickness givesacceptable results. Alternatively, membrane 110 may be constructed byinjection molding or other methods. Alternative materials may be used bythose skilled in the art to achieve the same results while maintainingwithin the spirit and intent of the present invention.

The membrane 110 in the present embodiment may be translucent or atleast partially transparent, so that the images displayed on the PDA maybe visible through the membrane 110. The membrane 110 may be tinted orcolorized in some applications. For example, a protective cover designedas a decorative cover may incorporate a colorized membrane 110. Further,the membrane may be selectively colorized and the opaqueness may vary.For example, the protective membrane may be printed or painted in theareas not used for the touch screen. A printing process may incorporatea logo, graphics, or labeling for individual buttons for the PDA. Theprinting process may further incorporate features, such as text orgraphics, that are used by the software on the PDA for a purpose such assimplifying data input or for designating an area on the touch screenfor a specific function, such as a help function. The printing orpainting processes used on the membrane 110 may be purely decorative andmay be for aesthetic purposes only. The printing process may alsocomprise logos or graphics for the brand identity of the PDA cover.Other processes, such as colorizing the raw material for the membrane110 or adding other components to the raw material, such as metal flakesor other additives, may be used to change the optical features of themembrane 110.

The optical performance of the membrane 110 may be changed or enhancedby changing the texture of the area of the touch screen. For example,the membrane may be frosted on the outside to hide scratches or may beimprinted with a lens or other features that change the opticalcharacteristics of the membrane 110. The membrane 110 may have opticalfeatures that are used in conjunction with the software of the PDA. Forexample, all or a portion of the membrane may comprise a lens thatmagnifies an image to a user. When the user touches the image on themembrane 110 and the touch is transferred to the touch screen, thesoftware in the PDA may have to compensate for the positionaldifferences between the image and actual area that was touched by theuser. In another example, if a specific portion of the membrane 110 hada specific optical characteristic, the software of the PDA may beconstructed to display a specific graphic for the area for an intendedeffect.

The membrane 110 in the present embodiment has a recessed portion 120and a raised portion 122. The recessed portion 120 may be adapted topress flat against the touch screen area of a specific PDA. The raisedportion 122 may be adapted to fit over an area of the specific PDA whereseveral buttons are located.

The raised portion 122 allows the user to operate the buttons on thePDA. The raised portion 122 is adapted such that the buttons on the PDAare easily operated through the protective membrane 110. The raisedportion 122 may have special features to aid the user in pressing thebuttons. For example, the raised portion 122 may comprise a dimpled areafor the user's finger located directly over the button. Further, afeature to aid the user may comprise a section of membrane 110 definedby a thinner area around the section, enabling the user to more easilydeflect the section of membrane over the button. The area of thinnermaterial may comprise a large section or a thin line. Further, tactileelements, such as small ribs or bumps may be incorporated into themembrane 110 in the area of the buttons so that the user has a tactilesensation that the user's finger is over the button. The tactile elementmay be particularly effective if the button was a power switch, forexample, that turned on the PDA.

The configuration of the membrane 110 may be unique to each style ormodel of PDA, however, the front case 102 and rear case 104 may be usedover a variety of PDAs. In the present embodiment, the changeover fromone PDA variety to another is accomplished by replacing the membrane 110without having to change any other parts. The present embodiment maytherefore be mass-produced with the only customizable area being themembrane 110 to allow different models of PDAs to be used with a certainfront case 102 and rear case 104.

The hand strap 112 in the present embodiment allows the user to hold theembodiment 100 securely in his hand while using the PDA. The hand strap112 may be constructed of a flexible material, such as rubber or clothwebbing, and may have an adjustment, such as a buckle, hook and loopfastener, or other method of adjustment. In other embodiments, a handstrap may be a rigid plastic handle, a folding handle, or any othermethod of assisting the user in holding the embodiment. Further, theembodiment may be adapted to be fix-mounted to another object, like apiece of machinery, a wall, or any other object. A fix-mountedembodiment may have other accoutrements adapted for fixed-mountapplications, such as receptacles for a stylus adapted to a fixed-mount,specialized electrical connections, features for locking the PDA insidethe case to prevent theft, or designs specifically adapted to shed waterwhen rained upon.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment 100 shown in anopen position. The front case 102 and rear case 104 are shown open aboutthe hinge 114. Membrane 110 is shown installed into gasket 106, and therecessed portion 120 and raised portion 122 of membrane 110 isillustrated looking from the inside of the case. The clasp mechanismsare not shown in this illustration. Hand strap 112 is shown attached torear case 104.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment 100 shown in anexploded state. The hand strap 116 attaches to the rear cover 104. Theovermolded grommet 106 holds the stylus 108 and is attached to frontcover 102. The membrane 110 attaches to the grommet 106 and is held inplace with an o-ring 302.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment 100 shown fromthe rear. The hand strap 116 is shown, along with rear cover 104 andfront cover 102. The stylus 108 is shown inserted into the overmoldedgrommet 106.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the embodiment 100. The front cover102, membrane 110, stylus 108, and hinge 114 are all visible.

FIG. 6 illustrates a section view of the embodiment 100 taken throughthe section line shown in FIG. 5. The front cover 102, rear cover 104,overmolded gasket 106, stylus 108, membrane 110, hand strap 112, ando-ring 302 are all shown hatched in this view.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detail view of the embodiment 100 shown in FIG. 6.Front case 102 and rear case 104 are joined at hinge 114. Overmoldedgasket 106 traps membrane 110 and o-ring 302 locks membrane 110 inplace. Overmolded gasket 106 may be formed by molding thermoplasticpolymerized rubber over the front cover 102.

The replacement of the membrane 110 is accomplished by removing o-ring302, pushing the membrane 110 from the overmolded gasket 106, snapping anew membrane 110 into place, and replacing the o-ring 302. The ease ofreplacement of the present embodiment allows a user to quickly replace adamaged membrane 110, allows a user to upgrade their case to a newermodel PDA, and may allow a user to select from various membranes 110 forthe particular application. One embodiment may have a single casepackaged with a small variety of several types of membranes 110. In suchan embodiment, the user may purchase the packaged set, select themembrane 110 that suits the user's particular PDA, and install theselected membrane 110 with ease.

The protective cover of the present invention may have directconnections through the cover for connecting through the case. Such aconnection is known as pass through. The connections may be for power,communication, heat dissipation, optical transmissions, mechanicalmotion, or other reasons.

Electrical connections may require an insulated metal conductor from thePDA through the wall of the protective cover so that a flexible cablemay be attached or so that the PDA in its protective case may be placedin a cradle for making the electrical connection. Inside the protectivecover, the electrical connections may be made with a flexible cable thatis plugged into the PDAs electrical connector before the PDA is securedin the protective cover. Alternatively, a fixed connector may beattached to the protective cover and the PDA is slid into contact withthe fixed connector. Another embodiment may be for a compliant, yetfixed mounted electrical connector to be rigidly mounted inside theprotective cover. A compliant, yet fixed mounted electrical connectormay comprise spring loaded probes, commonly referred to as pogo pins.Another embodiment may comprise spring fingers that engage the PDAselectrical contacts. On the outside of the protective cover, theelectrical contacts may be terminated into a fix-mounted connectoradapted to receive a cable from a computer. The connector may bedesigned to receive a cable that plugs directly into the PDA or it maybe adapted to receive a different connector. Further, the electricalconnection to the PDA may be permanently attached to a cable thatextends out of the protective cover. Another embodiment may be to have asmall trap door that opens in the protective cover to allow access tothe electrical connections. While the trap door exposes the PDA to theelements the cover is designed to protect against, a direct electricalconnection may eliminate a potential cabling connection problem.Connections for fiber optics can be handled in similar fashions as theelectrical connections. An embodiment with a power connection maycomprise the use of inductive coils located in proximity to each otherbut on opposite sides of the protective cover. Those skilled in the artof may devise other embodiments for connecting through the protectivecover without deviating from the scope and intent of the presentinvention.

Through the air communications, such as infrared and over the air radiofrequency (RF) communications may pass through the protective cover. Thematerial for the front case 102 and rear case 104 may be selected to beclear plastic, such as polycarbonate. The infrared transceiver of thePDA can communicate through a clear plastic case to another infraredtransceiver outside of the case. Further, the appropriate selection ofmaterial for the protective case can thereby enable various RFtransmissions, such as cellular phone communications or other wirelesscommunication protocols.

An infrared transmission through the protective case of an embodiment ofthe invention may be accomplished by making the entire protective caseout of a clear material. Alternatively, a selected area of theprotective case may be clear while the remainder of the case is opaque.The selected area may be constructed of a separate piece that allows theinfrared light through the protective case. Alternatively, the selectedarea may be constructed of a portion of the protective case thatmanufactured in a way so as not to be opaque, such as selectively notpainting or plating the area of a plastic protective case. Further, theclear material through which the transmission occurs may be tinted inthe visual spectrum but be translucent or at least partially transparentin the infrared spectrum of the device.

A protective case may allow RF transmissions to and from the PDA whilethe case is closed. Such a case may be constructed of a non-metallicmaterial. In some embodiments, the material of the protective case maybe tuned to allow certain frequencies to pass through the protectivecover and tune out other frequencies, through loading the material usedin the protective cover with conductive media or through varying thethickness of the case and other geometries of the case in the area ofthe PDA transmission and reception antenna.

In a different embodiment, it may be desirable to shield the PDA fromoutside RF interference. In this case, the protective cover may be ametallic construction or may be plastic with a metallized coating.Further, membrane 110 may have a light metallized coating applied sothat membrane 110 is slightly or fully conductive. An application forsuch an embodiment may be the use of the PDA in an area of high RF noisethat may interfere with the operation of the PDA, or conversely, the usemay be in an area that is highly susceptible to external RF interferenceand the PDAs RF noise may be interfering with some other device.

The PDA may be equipped with a camera or other video capture device. Aprotective cover may have provisions to allow a clear image to be seenby the video capture device through the case. Such provisions mayinclude an optically clear insert assembled into the protective case.Other embodiments may have a sliding trap door whereby the user of thePDA may slide the door open for the camera to see. Additionally, otherembodiments may comprise a molded case that has an optically clear lensintegrally molded. Such an embodiment may be additionally painted,plated, or overmolded, with the lens area masked so that the painting,plating, or overmolding does not interfere with the optics of the lens.

An optically clear area may be used for a barcode scanner portion of aPDA to scan through the case to the outside world. In such anembodiment, a barcode scanner may be protected from the elements whilestill maintaining full functionality in the outside world.

The PDA may have indicator lights that indicate various items, such aspower, battery condition, communication, and other status items. Theindicator lights may be in positions on the PDA that are not readilyviewable through the protective membrane 110. The indicator lights maybe made visible through the protective case by using light pipes thattransmit the light from the PDAs status light to the outside of theprotective case. Such light pipes may be constructed of clear or tintedplastic, or other translucent or semi-transparent material. The lightpipes may be formed as an integral feature to the protective case or maybe separate parts that are formed separately and assembled to theprotective case.

The PDA may have a speaker or other element that makes noise and/or thePDA may have a microphone for receiving audio signals. The speaker maybe an audio quality device for reproducing sound or it may be a simplebuzzer for indicating various functions of the PDA. The microphone maybe an audio quality device or it may be a low performance device.Special provisions may be made for transmitting sound through aprotective case. Such provisions may range from a single hole in thecase to a tuned cavity that would allow sound to pass through withminimum distortion. Other embodiments may include a transmissivemembrane adapted to allow sound to pass through the protective case witha minimum of distortion. Such membranes may be located near the speakerand microphone elements of the PDA. Such membranes may be watertightmembranes known by the brand name Gore-Tex.

The PDA may generate heat during its use and provisions for dissipatingthe heat may be built into the protective cover. A heat-dissipatingdevice may be integral to the protective cover or may comprise one ormore separate parts. For example, a metallic protective cover may beadapted to touch the PDA in the area of heat generation and conduct theheat outwardly to the rest of the protective cover. The protective covermay thereby dissipate the heat to the external air without overheatingthe PDA. In another example, a separate heat sink may be applied to thePDA and allowed to protrude through a hole in the protective cover. Theheat sink may thereby transfer the heat from the PDA to the ambientenvironment without overheating the PDA. The heat sinks may be attachedto the PDA with a thermally conductive adhesive. Other embodiments mayinclude vent holes for heat dissipation and air circulation.

The PDA may have a button that may not be located underneath themembrane 110. An embodiment may include a flexible, pliable, orotherwise movable mechanism that may transmit mechanical motion from theoutside of the case to a button on the PDA. Such an embodiment may havea molded dimpled surface that is pliable and allows a user to activate abutton on a PDA by pressing the dimpled surface. Another embodiment mayhave a rigid plunger that is mounted on a spring and adapted to transmitthe mechanical movement from the exterior of the case to a button on thePDA. The buttons on the PDA may be located on any side of the PDA and anembodiment of a case may have pliable areas adapted to allow the user topress buttons that are not on the front face of the PDA.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of embodiment 800 of the present inventionwherein the PDA 802 is encapsulated by a protective cover 804. Theinstallation of the PDA 802 is to slide PDA 802 into the opening 808,then fold door 806 closed and secure with flap 810, which is hingedalong line 812. Areas 814 and 816 may comprise a hook and loop fastenersystem or other fastening device. Recessed area 818 is adapted to fitagainst touch screen 820 of PDA 802.

Embodiment 800 may be comprised of a single molded plastic part that maybe very low cost. As shown, embodiment 800 may not be completelyweathertight, since the door 806 does not completely seal the enclosure.However, such an embodiment may afford considerable protection to thePDA 802 in the areas of dust protection, scratch protection, and beingoccasionally rained upon. Further, the low cost of the embodiment 800may be changed often during the life of the PDA 802.

Embodiment 800 may have custom colors, logos, or designs that allow auser to personalize their PDA with a specific cover that is suited totheir mood or tastes. The colors, logos, and designs may be integrallymolded into the cover 804. Alternatively, different colors, logos, anddesigns may be applied in a secondary operation such as printing,painting, plating, or other application process.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of embodiment 900 of the present inventionwherein a decorative cover 902 is snapped over a PDA 904. The ends 906and 908 snap over the PDA ends 910 and 912 as an attachment mechanismfor cover 902 to PDA 904. Recessed area 914 is adapted to fit againsttouch screen 916.

Embodiment 900 may be a cover for decorative purposes only, or may befor protective purposes as well. Cover 902 may be emblazoned with logos,designs, or other visual embellishments to personalize the PDA 904. Thecolors, logos, and designs may be integrally molded into the cover 904.Alternatively, different colors, logos, and designs may be applied in asecondary operation such as printing, painting, plating, or otherapplication process.

Embodiment 900 may be attached by snapping the cover 902 onto PDA 904.Special provisions in the case of PDA 904 may be provided for a snappingfeature of cover 902, or cover 902 may be adapted to hold onto PDA 904without the use of special features in PDA 904.

The features used to secure cover 902 to PDA 904 may be any mechanismwhereby the cover 902 can be secured. This includes snapping, clamping,fastening, sliding, gluing, adhering, or any other method for securingtwo components together.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a receiver1002 for holding the protective case 100. The protective case 100 isheld into receiver 1002 in such a manner that the touch screen displayis facing into the receiver 1002, to afford the touch screen displaywith protection.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of a receiver1002 shown from the opposite side as FIG. 10. Receiver 1002 is comprisedof a back 1102, a belt clip mechanism 1104, and four clip areas 1106,1108, 1110, and 1112. The protective case 100 is placed into thereceiver 1002 by inserting one end into the receiver, then rotating theprotective case 100 into position such that the snapping action of clipareas 1106, 1108, 1110, and 1112 are engaged to hold protective case 100securely.

Receiver 1002 may be adapted to clip onto a person's belt or may beadapted to be mounted on a wall or other location where the PDA may bestored. The orientation of the protective case 100 is such that thetouch screen element of the PDA is protected during normal transport andstorage, since the touch screen interface is facing the back 1102 of thereceiver 1002.

Receiver 1002 may be made of compliant plastic that allows the clipareas 1106, 1108, 1110, and 1112 to move out of the way and spring backduring insertion or removal of the protective case 100. In the presentembodiment, receiver 1002 may be constructed of a single part. Inalternative embodiments, receiver 1002 may be constructed of multipleparts and of multiple materials, such as a metal back with spring loadedclips. In other embodiments, special features may be included in theprotective case 100 where the receiver 1002 may engage a special featurefor securing the protective case 100.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment 1200 of the present invention of aprotective cover for a PDA or other device. A rigid front cover 1202 anda rigid rear cover 1204 are held together with a series of latches 1206,1208, 1210, and 1212. The protective membrane 1214 protects thetouchscreen of the enclosed PDA. A folding rigid cover 1216 operates asa rigid shield to prevent the membrane 1214 from any damage. The stylusholder 1220 is formed from an overmolded flexible material in which themembrane 1214 is mounted.

Embodiment 1200 illustrates yet another embodiment of the presentinvention wherein a rigid protective cover may be used to contain andprotect an electronic device, but provide full usable access to atouchscreen. The protective membrane 1214 and case may be watertight insome embodiments.

FIG. 13A illustrates an embodiment of a protective enclosure 1300 thatencloses and protects a tablet PC 1302. PDAs that have touch screens, asdescribed above, have an interactive flat-panel control, i.e., the touchscreen display. Tablet PCs are portable electronic computing devicesthat have a high-resolution interactive flat-panel control that acceptssmooth stylus strokes such as handwriting. The embodiment of FIG. 13A iscrush-resistant, impact-resistant, watertight, and simultaneously allowsinteractive stylus strokes and other sensitive user inputs to beaccurately and easily transmitted through a protective screen membrane1306 to the interactive flat-panel control of tablet PC 1302.

A watertight and shock-absorbing foam cushion 1310 may be fixed andsealed to the underside of the lid 1304 around the interactiveflat-panel control opening. The protective screen membrane 1306 is fixedand sealed to the shock-absorbing foam cushion 1310. The shock-absorbingfoam cushion 1310 maintains the watertightness of the enclosure. Thecushion 1310 also cushions the flat-panel control of the tablet PC 1302and protects it against breakage if the enclosure and tablet PC aredropped or otherwise subjected to shock. In accordance with theembodiment of FIG. 13A, the shock-absorbing foam cushion 1310 has athickness of approximately 0.25 inches and extends approximately 0.060inches below the underside of the interactive flat-panel control openingof the lid 1304. One source of suitable watertight shock-absorbing foamis E.A.R. Specialty Composites of 7911 Zionville Rd., Indianapolis, Ind.46268. Cushion 1310 allows the protective screen membrane to move adistance of up to 0.125 inches during an impact to the enclosure or whenpressure is applied to protect membrane 1306 while pushing the tablet PCcontrol buttons 1308 or writing on the interactive flat-panel controlwith a stylus through the membrane. The shock-absorbing foam cushion1310 also pushes the protective screen membrane 1306 flatly against thesurface of the interactive flat-panel control of the tablet PC 1302 sothat sensitive user stylus strokes and other inputs are accuratelytransmitted. The pressure of the cushion 1310 on the protective screenmembrane 1306 which holds the protective screen membrane 1306 flatlyagainst the interactive flat-panel control of the tablet PC 1302 alsokeeps display images, viewed through the protective screen membrane,clear and distortion-free. In embodiments of the protective enclosure toprotect a touch-screen device, the protective membrane may be adjacentto the touch screen but does not exert mechanical pressure on the touchscreen so that mechanical inputs such as style strokes are sensed onlywhen intended. In embodiments of the protective enclosure to protect atablet PC that has an RF stylus or to protect a handheld device that acapacitance-sensing interactive flat-panel control, the protectivemembrane may be pressed flat against the interactive flat-panel controlwhich allows undistorted viewing but does not adversely affect thecontrol since the interactive control uses capacitance or radiofrequencies for interactive input instead of mechanical pressure.

The protective screen membrane 1306 in the embodiment of FIG. 13A is atleast partially transparent and has a thickness of approximately 0.010inches. The thickness of the protective screen membrane 1306 should betypically in the range of 0.001 inches to 0.020 inches so that stylusstrokes on the upper surface of protective screen membrane 1306 aretransmitted accurately to the interactive flat-panel control of thetablet PC 1302. Likewise, protective screen membrane 1306 may beflexible or semi-rigid and may be made of polyvinylchloride or othersuitable transparent thermoplastic, such as, for example,polyvinylchloride, thermoplastic polycarbonate, thermoplasticpolypropylene, thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene,thermoplastic polyurethane, which has a hardness and texture thatpermits the stylus to smoothly glide across the surface withoutskipping, grabbing, or catching against the surface. Some tablet PC'sutilize a stylus which transmits strokes to the PC by way of radiofrequency transmission. Protective screen membrane 1306 may be made of arigid, clear, engineered thermoplastic such as, for example,thermoplastic polycarbonate or other thermoplastics as described above,for enclosing a tablet PC. A protective screen membrane 1306 that isrigid may include watertight access ports that allow operation ofmechanical buttons or switches of the tablet PC 1302, such as, forexample, control buttons 1308. The watertight access ports may includeholes that have a moveable watertight plug, or any type of watertightbutton or lever. Protective screen membrane 1306 may include ananti-glare coating or can be made with an anti-glare texture so thatdisplay images are clearly viewable without distortion through theprotective screen membrane 1306.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13A, the lid 1304 of the protective enclosure1300 may have an external stylus holder 1324 that securely holds astylus used with the tablet PC 1302.

As described above with respect to FIG. 1, the lid 1304 and the base1312 may have air-permeable watertight vents 1318, 1326 that permit thecooling fans of the tablet PC 1302 to force air exchange to dissipateheat by convection so that the tablet PC 1302 does not overheat.Watertight vents 1318, 1326 may comprise holes in the lid 1304 and base1312 that are made watertight by covering and sealing the holes with anair-permeable watertight membrane such as, for example, a fabricatedexpanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. One source thatfabricated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes isavailable from is W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. of 555 Papermill Road,Newark, Del. 19711.

The embodiment of FIG. 13A may also comprise a pod door 1322 that allowsaccess to table PC interfaces such as, for example, PCMCIA or Smart Cardslots. The pod door 1322 is attached to the lid 1304 so that it may beremoved or opened. In the embodiment of FIG. 13A, the pod door 1322 ishingedly connected to a portion of the base 1312 at a location of thebase 1312 that has an opening that allows access to the tablet PCinterfaces. The opening can be covered by a watertight seal 1320, suchas, for example, an O-ring that is part of pod door 1322.

The underside of the lid 1304 also has a watertight seal, such as anO-ring, so that when compound latches 1328, 1330, 1332 and 1334 areclosed, the O-ring or seal of the lid 1304 forms a watertight sealagainst the base 1312. The protective enclosure 1300 protects the tabletPC 1302 from water and dust intrusion sufficient to comply with IngressProtection (IP) rating of IP 67, i.e., the protective enclosure totallyprotects the enclosed tablet PC from dust and protects the enclosedtablet PC from the effects of immersion in one meter of water for 30minutes.

The protective enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 13A may furthercomprise protective overmolding 1316 attached to the lid 1304. A similarovermolding may be attached to the base 1312. The protective overmolding1316 may be made of material that is easily gripped in slipperyconditions and provides additional shock absorption such as, forexample, rubber or silicone. The protective overmolding 1316 extendsabove the surface of the lid in pre-determined areas to provideprotrusions that are easily gripped even in slippery conditions. Theprotective enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 13 may further comprisewatertight plugs such as access port plug 1314 that fit snugly intoopenings in the base 1312 that provide access to various interfaces,connecters and slots of the tablet PC 1302.

FIG. 13B illustrates a shell lid 1304 of the embodiment of FIG. 13A.Shell lid 1304 and base 1312 may be made of impact/crush resistantmaterial such as glass-fiber reinforced engineered thermoplastic, suchas for example, glass reinforced polycarbonate. Alternatively, the shelllid 1304 and shell base may be made of thermoplastic polycarbonate,thermoplastic polypropylene, thermoplasticacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and thermoplastic compositionscontaining one or more thereof, or other engineered thermoplastics thatprovide a shock-resistant and impact resistant shell may be used. Theengineered thermoplastics may be reinforced with glass fibers, carbonfibers, metal fibers, polyamide fibers and mixtures thereof. Shell lid1304 may be further reinforced with stiffeners 1334, 1336, 1338, 1340that are integrally embedded into the shell lid around the perimeter ofan opening in the shell that is directly over the interactive flat-panelcontrol portion of the tablet PC. The stiffeners made be made of steelor other hard material so that the stiffeners provide additionalstrength and prevent flexing of the lid 1304 which enhances thewatertightness and the impact/crush resistance.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 13A with the lid1404 detached from the base 1412. To protect the tablet PC 1402 usingthe protective enclosure 1400, the tablet PC 1402 is disposed to fitsnugly into the base 1412. The lid is oriented so that hooks 1436, 1438area aligned with pin 1440 that is connected to a portion of the base1412 and the lid is closed so that hooks 1436, 1438 are retained by pin1440. Compound latches 1428, 1430, 1432, 1434 are then snapped onto thelid so that the lid is compressed tightly against the base providing awatertight seal.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 13. The base 1516 ofprotective enclosure 1500 includes watertight vents such as watertightvent 1506 for air exchange to permit heat and sound dissipation from theenclosed tablet PC while at the same time maintaining watertightness.

Pod release knobs 1512, 1518 are attached to the base 1516 so that theknobs can be rotated clockwise to securely wedge against an edge of poddoor 1522 to close the pod door 1522 tightly against a rim around an thepod opening in base 1516 to create a watertight seal. Knobs 1512, 1518can be rotated counter-clockwise to release pod door 1522 to access theinterfaces of the tablet PC covered by pod door 1522.

To provide additional protection against mechanical shock, heavy-dutycorner bumpers such as bumper 1504 may be securely attached to thecorners of base 1516.

As shown in FIG. 15, an adjustable heavy-duty handle may be attached tothe base 1516 of the protective enclosure 1500 to allow easy andreliable transportation of the protective enclosure 1500 that encloses atablet PC. In some circumstances, it is convenient to hold theprotective enclosure using hand strap 1514 that is made of strongslightly stretchable fabric. Hand strap 1514 attaches to four points ofthe base 1516 to that a user's hand or wrist can be inserted along theeither the longer or shorted length on the protective enclosure 1500 andenclosure tablet PC. Hand strap 1514 may be made of neoprene or otherstrong stretchable material to securely hold the protective enclosure tothe user's arm even in slippery conditions. The protective enclosure mayfurther include a neck strap to provide a comfortable solution for usingthe tablet PC while standing.

FIG. 16 illustrates a top view of the protective enclosure base 1600.Watertight vents such as watertight vent 1616 allow air exchange forheat dissipation and sound transmission from an enclosed tablet PC. Sealrim 1614 is an integrally formed part of the protective enclosure 1600which is compressed against an O-ring in the protective enclosure lid toprovide a watertight seal when compound latches 1628, 1630, 1632, 1634are closed onto the lid.

Internal bumpers 1602, 1604, 1608, 1610 attach to the interior cornersof protective enclosure base 1600 to provide cushion and mechanicalshock protection to an enclosed tablet PC. The L-shape and non-solidinterior of internal bumpers 1602, 1604, 1608, 1610 allows the bumpersto deflect and absorb the shock if the enclosed tablet PC is dropped orotherwise subjected to mechanical shock. The protective enclosureprovides shock absorption sufficient to meet MIL-STD 810F, Method 516.5,Procedure 4 which is a Transit Drop Test. In the Transit Drop Test, theprotective enclosure encloses a tablet PC or a mass equivalent to atablet PC. The protective enclosure is sequentially dropped onto eachface, edge and corner for a total of 26 drops over plywood from a heightof 48 inches. The protective enclosure is visually inspected after eachdrop and a functional check for leakage is performed after all drops arecompleted.

Some tablet PCs have a docking connector disposed on the underside ofthe tablet PC so that the tablet PC can connect to power and signals.For example, emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, orpatrol cars, may have a docking station installed near the driver's seatonto which the driver may dock a tablet PC. The embodiment of protectiveenclosure base 1600, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may comprise a dockingconnector channel 1624 that is recessed with respect to the uppersurface of the base that allows a docking connector to run from adocking connector that is disposed in the center underside of the tabletPC to access port 1626. Alternatively, a docking pass-through connector1620 may be made an integral and watertight part of the protectiveenclosure base 1600 so that the tablet PC docking connector attaches tothe docking pass-through connector 1620 which, in turn, connects to thedocking station in substantially the same manner as an unenclosed tabletPC.

FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of protective enclosure 1700 fora handheld electronic device 1702 that has an interactive flat-panelcontrol. Handheld electronic devices that have an interactive flat-panelcontrol benefit from being enclosed in a rugged protective enclosurethat is crush-resistant, watertight and shock-resistant and thatsimultaneously allows the user to interact with a sensitive interactiveflat-panel control. Handheld electronic devices that have interactiveflat-panel control may include music players, MP3 players, audioplayer/recorders, and video players. For example, Apple Computer's iPodplayer is a popular handheld interactive device that plays MP3 orotherwise digitally-encoded music/audio. The Apple iPod player has aninteractive flat-panel control in which a portion of the front panel isa flat-panel display and portion of the front panel is an interactiveflat-panel control, called a touch wheel in some versions of the iPodand click wheel in other versions of the iPod, that has capacitivetouch/proximity sensors. One function of the interactive flat-panelcontrol, i.e. touch wheel, emulates a rotary control knob by sensingcircular motion of a user's finger using capacitive sensors. The clickwheel has the same function with the additional feature of sensingproximity of a user's finger and emulating button presses by a user'sfinger at predetermined areas.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, the shell lid 1706 and the shell base 1704are made of polycarbonate or other engineered thermoplastics that arecrush-resistant and impact resistant. Shell base 1704 has a watertightseal 1718, which may be an overmolded gasket, o-ring, liner or otherseal that prevents water from entering the protective enclosure 1700when the handheld interactive device 1702 is enclosed inside theprotective enclosure 1700. Shell base 1704 and shell lid 1706 mayinclude watertight vents, electrical connectors, see-through areas orfeatures as disclosed with respect to FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, shell lid 1706 includes apertures overpredetermined portions of the handheld interactive device 1702, such asthe areas directly over the display screen 1714 and the interactiveflat-panel control 1712, or other designated areas as desired. Aprotective screen membrane 1710 that is at least partially transparentis permanently or removably fixed in a watertight manner to theunderside of shell lid 1706 in the aperture that is over the displayscreen 1714. The protective screen membrane 1710 is recessed withrespect to the upper surface of the shell lid 1706 which provides aprotective elevated rim that protects the display screen 1714 frombreakage. Protective screen membrane 1710 may be PVC, silicone or othermaterial that is watertight and rugged. In the case that display screen1714 is a touch screen, the protective screen membrane 1710 should besmooth enough and thin enough that stylus strokes and other inputs aretransmitted accurately to the touch screen as disclosed above withrespect to FIG. 1, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 17, a protective controlmembrane 1708 is permanently or removably fixed in a watertight mannerto the underside of shell lid 1706 in an aperture that is over theinteractive flat-panel control 1714 of the handheld device 1702. Theprotective screen membrane 1710 is recessed with respect to the uppersurface of the shell lid 1706 which provides protective elevated rimthat protects the display screen 1714 from breakage and provides tactilefeedback that guides a user's finger to the desired area even inslippery conditions.

Interactive flat-panel control 1712 has capacitive sensors which arepart of a proximity/touch detector circuit. When a grounded object, suchas a person's finger, which has free air capacitance of several hundredpicofarads, is brought close to the capacitive sensors, the totalcapacitance measured by the detector circuit increases because thecapacitance of the object with free air capacitance adds to thecapacitance of the sensors since the total capacitance of two capacitorsin parallel is additive. Multiple sensors may also be arranged so thatmovement of an object with free air capacitance can be detected, forexample, movement of a person's finger in a circular motion analogous toturning a mechanical control knob. Some examples of interactiveflat-panel controlled PDA's include iPod and iPod Mini music and audioplayers from Apple Computer. In some PDAs, such as the Apple iPod,capacitive sensors may be disposed below a front panel made from adielectric such as polycarbonate which has a dielectric constant in therange of 2.2-3.8. In the embodiment of FIG. 17, the protective controlmembrane 1708 is made of thin polycarbonate that is slightly flexible,or other engineered thermoplastics that provide the rugged watertightprotection and at the same time permit the capacitive sensors of theinteractive flat-panel control 1712 to function correctly. Likewise, aprotective control membrane 1708 with a dielectric constant that is toohigh may retain an electric charge long enough to reduce the responserate of the sensor to motion of a user's finger from one capacitivesensor zone of the interactive flat-panel control 1712 to another. Aprotective control membrane 1708 that is conductive or has a dielectricconstant that is too low may diminish the sensitivity of the capacitivesensor by combining in series the capacitance of the protective membraneand the dielectric front panel of the PDA which results in a lowering ofthe overall capacitance.

Total capacitance between an object, such as a finger touching theprotective control membrane 1708, and interactive flat-panel control1712 is a function of the thickness and the dielectric constant of theprotective control membrane 1708. The capacitance between the object,such as a finger, and the capacitive sensors of the interactiveflat-panel control 1712 is proportional to the distance between theobject and the sensors. The sensitivity of the capacitive sensors to theobject may be diminished or completely eliminated if the protectivecontrol membrane 1708 is too thick. In the embodiment of FIG. 17, thethickness of the protective control membrane is approximately 0.020inches. The protective control membrane 1708 may be any thickness in therange of 0.003 inches to 0.020 inches that is adequate to provide arugged watertight membrane through which capacitance can be correctlysensed by the interactive flat-panel control 1712.

The upper surface of the protective control membrane 1708 has avelvet/matte texture with a texture depth of 0.0004 to 0.003 inches thatreduces the surface area of the membrane that is in frictional contactwith the user's finger and permits a user's finger to glide rapidly uponthe surface of the membrane without catching or sticking as a result ofthe reduced friction. The hardness of the polycarbonate material, orother hard engineered thermoplastic, also reduces the friction.

Headphones or other accessories may be electrically connected tohandheld device 1702 the through the protective enclosure 1700 bydisposing the wire of the headphone or accessory in an insertable gasket1716 which fits snugly into one end of the shell base 1704.

FIG. 18 illustrates another embodiment of protective enclosure 1800which is substantially the same as protective enclosure 1700 of FIG. 17.However, protective enclosure 1800 has an alternative electricalpass-through for accessories. In the embodiment of FIG. 18, shell base1804 includes an adapter cable 1816 that has an adapter plug 1812 at oneend which plugs into a jack of handheld device 1802. At the other end ofthe adapter cable 1816 is an adapter jack 1814 that is molded into, orotherwise integrally made part of, shell base 1804. An externalaccessory, such as a pair of headphones, may then be plugged into theadapter jack 1814 while the handheld device 1802 in enclosed inprotective enclosure 1800. Alternatively, a one-piece adapter thatincludes both a jack 1814 and a plug 1812 without a cable 1816 may beintegrally disposed into shell base 1804.

Shell lid 1806 is adapted to retain an O-ring 1808 that seals theprotective enclosure 1800 when shell lid 1806 is latched tightly ontoshell base 1804 so that water cannot enter protective enclosure 1800.

FIG. 19A is an oblique view of another embodiment of a protectiveenclosure 1900 for an interactive flat-panel control device. Theprotective enclosure 1900 has an internal plug 1902 that electricallyconnects to an external jack 1914 to form an integrated electricalpass-through. The internal plug 1902 and the external jack 1914 may beoffset from each other and disposed side-by-side to minimize the lengthof the protective enclosure 1900.

Protective enclosure 1900 includes an upper shell 1906 that has aprotective membrane 1916 that allows the handheld electronic device tobe viewed and controlled. Recessed area 1918 is textured to minimizefriction between a user's finger and the protective membrane 1916.

Upper shell 1906 is hingedly connected to lower shell 1908. Hinge pivotstops 1920 and 1922 form part of lower shell 1908. Hinge pivot stops1920 and 1922 have a beveled side that allows upper shell 1906 to opento a maximum pivot angle of approximately 30 degrees with respect tolower shell 1908 at which point the hinge pivot stops 1920 and 1922 abuta flat surface of upper shell 1906 inhibiting upper shell 1906 fromopening wider. The maximum pivot angle protects the internal plug 1902from being broken off and protects the jack of the handheld electronicdevice from being damaged by restricting the angle of the handheldelectronic device with respect to the lower shell during insertion orremoval of the handheld electronic device.

An interactive handheld electronic device may be enclosed in protectiveenclosure 1900 and the upper shell 1906 may be closed and latch 1910 maybe closed so that protective enclosure 1900 is submersibly watertight,thus protecting the handheld electronic device from water and fromcrushing forces or impact. Watertight, crush-resistant protectiveenclosure 1900 simultaneously enables interaction with the handheldelectronic device via the protective membrane and via an electricalinterface. For example, an Apple iPod may be inserted into theprotective enclosure 1900 with internal plug 1902 which is a 3.5-mmstereo plug that inserts into the headphone jack of the iPod. Headphonesor other accessories can then be inserted into the external jack 1914that is a 3.5-mm stereo jack, which allows electrical contact of theheadphones or accessories to the iPod while the enclosure is closed andin a submersibly watertight state. Any type of internal and externalplugs and jacks may be used to accommodate other interfaces.

FIG. 19B is another view of the embodiment of FIG. 19A. The upper shellof 1906 is hingedly connected to the lower shell 1908 by hinge 1912. Thebody of the internal plug 1902 and the external jack 1914 aresubstantially surrounded and sealed by elastomeric covering 1904 so thatno liquid may enter the protective enclosure 1900 through openings orgaps in or around internal plug 1902 and external jack 1914 resulting inthe protective enclosure being submersibly watertight when closed. Theelastomeric covering 1904 may be made of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE),thermoplastic rubber (TPR) or other soft rubber-like materials. Theflexibility of the elastomeric covering 1904 allows internal plug 1902to tilt to some extent to facilitate insertion and removal of aninteractive handheld electronic device without breaking the electricalconnection and without damaging the elastomeric covering 1904 or theprotective enclosure 1900.

FIG. 20 is a view of the lower shell of the protective enclosure of theembodiment of FIG. 19A with the integrated watertight electricalpass-through connector exposed. The external jack 2014 may be of a sizesuch that an aperture 2010 in the lower shell 2008 is helpful inaccommodating and positioning external jack 2014. For example, externaljack 2014 may be disposed within aperture 2010 of lower shell 2008 sothat an upper part of external jack 2014 is disposed within lower shell2008 and a lower part of external jack extends below lower shell 2008.Lower shell 2008 may optionally contain a substructure 2006 over whichan elastomeric covering may be formed. Internal plug 2002 is disposedwithin lower shell 2008 so that internal plug 2002 aligns with acorresponding jack of the handheld electronic device.

Hinge pivot stops 2020 and 2022 form part of lower shell 2008. Hingepivot stops 2020 and 2022 have a beveled side that allows an upper shellto open to a maximum pivot angle that corresponds to a maximum desiredangle with respect to the lower shell 2008 so that the handheldelectronic device may be inserted while connecting to internal plug2002. In the embodiment of FIG. 19A, the angle is approximately 30degrees with respect to lower shell 2008 at which point the beveled sideof hinge pivot stops 2020 and 2022 abut a flat surface of the uppershell which inhibits the upper shell from opening wider. The maximumpivot angle protects the internal plug 2002 from being broken off ordamaging the socket of the handheld electronic device during the processof inserting or removing the handheld electronic device to or from theenclosure. By restricting the angle at which the handheld electronicdevice can be inserted or removed from the enclosure, the maximumflexure of the plug 2002 is limited. As indicated above, the angle ofthe opening is restricted by controlling the maximum angle of the uppershell with respect to the lower shell 2008. Flexure of the internal plug2002 is provided by surrounding the plug with an elastomer having amodulus of elasticity that allows the plug to both flex adequately toprevent damage to the plug and the supporting structure of the plug, andto prevent damage to the socket of the handheld electronic device, whilemaintaining the plug substantially stationary and sufficiently secure toallow the handheld electronic device to be easily aligned, inserted, andremoved from the enclosure.

External jack 2014 is electrically connected to internal plug 2002 bycable 2004 which may be soldered or otherwise securely connected to theterminals of external jack 2014 and internal plug 2002. Cable 2004 maybe a set of individual wires, a ribbon cable, or a co-axial cable, asdesired, depending on the type of external jack 2014 and internal plug2002 that are used. Various types of cables and connectors may be usedfor various interface signal levels, protocols and frequencies.

FIG. 21 illustrates an elastomeric covering 2104 that covers andsubstantially surrounds a portion of internal plug 2102 and a portionexternal jack 2014 (shown in FIG. 20) so that internal plug 2102 andexternal jack 2014 are held in place within lower shell 2108 by anelastomeric covering 2104. Elastomeric covering 2104 may be made ofthermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic rubber (TPR) or othermaterials that have elastomeric properties as described above.Elastomeric covering 2104 may be formed by various processing includingovermolding and two-shot molding. The elastomeric properties ofelastomeric covering 2104 allows internal plug 2102 to tilt so that itmay be easily inserted into a corresponding jack of the handheldelectronic device and easily removed from the handheld electronic devicejack, while at the same time providing a submersibly watertight sealwhen the handheld electronic device is enclosed within the protectiveenclosure.

FIG. 22 illustrates hinge pivot stops 2220 and 2222 of the protectiveenclosure 2200 of FIG. 19 in the open position at a maximum angle. Atthe maximum angle, hinge pivot stops 2220 and 2222 of the lower shell2208 abut against a portion of upper shell 2206 which inhibits the uppershell 2206 from opening wider.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the lower shell 2300 of the protectiveenclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 19A having a single external jack2302. Elastomeric covering 2304 protects external jack 2302 and holds itin place within the lower shell 2300 of the protective enclosure.

FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the protective enclosure 2400 having twoexternal jacks 2402 and 2406. Elastomeric covering 2404 protectsexternal jacks 2302 and 2306 and holds them in place within the lowershell of protective enclosure 2300. Two external jacks 2402 and 2406 maybe connected electrically in parallel to an internal plug which in turnmay be connected to a headphone jack of an interactive handheldelectronic device such as an Apple iPod. A first pair of headphones orearbuds 2408 may then be connected to external jack 2402 and a secondset of headphones or earbuds 2410 may be simultaneously connected toexternal jack 2406 thus allowing two users to listen to the one iPodsimultaneously, for example, when riding together on a ski lift, or in araft.

FIG. 25 illustrates a removable cable management belt clip 2502 for theprotective enclosure 2500 of the embodiment of FIG. 19A with the beltclip 2502 attached to the protective enclosure 2500. Cable managementbelt clip 2502 allows protective enclosure 2500 to conveniently attachto a users belt. Cable management belt clip includes a flange 2504around which a cable 2516 of a pair of earbuds or other cabled interfacedevices may be wrapped to prevent tangling. For example, an iPod usermay wrap a pair of earbuds 2512 around cable management belt clip 2502and toss the assembly into a backpack or the glove box of a vehicle inorder to prevent the cable 2516 from becoming entangled. Then, when theuser is ready to ski, raft or dive, the earbuds 2512 may be unwound fromthe cable management belt clip 2502 and placed into the user's ears sothat the user can enjoy listening to the iPod, while participating in anactivity that requires protection of the iPod from water, shock, orother potential damage.

FIG. 26 illustrates a removable cable management belt clip 2602 for theprotective enclosure 2600 of the embodiment of FIG. 19A with the beltclip removed. In some cases it may be desirable to disconnect cablemanagement belt clip 2602 from the protective enclosure 2600. Cablemanagement belt clip 2606 has a pair of glides that slide onto rails2610 that are connected to a back side of protective enclosure 2600. Aclip release 2606 on cable management belt clip 2602 may be deflectedaway from retainer 2608 which allows cable management belt clip 2602 toslide away from protective enclosure 2600.

A watertight protective enclosure is therefore provided for handheldelectronic devices that is simple and easy to use and provides a highdegree of protection from water, shock or other damage. An external jackis electronically connected to an internal plug in the enclosure, but isotherwise isolated from the internal portion of the enclosure so thatexternal electrical devices such as earphones and other accessories canbe used to access the handheld electrical device by plugging into theexternal jack, while still maintaining the isolation of the handheldelectronic device in the enclosure and maintaining the watertightfeatures of the enclosure. The enclosure has a top shell that is limitedas to the angle at which it can pivot to an open position which limitsthe angle at which the handheld electronic device can be inserted intoand removed from the enclosure. An internal plug is mounted in aflexible elastomeric material which allows the plug to flex so that thehandheld electronic device can be easily mated with the plug duringinsertion of the handheld electronic device into the enclosure andeasily removed from the enclosure without flexing the internal plugbeyond the limited access angle provided by the restricted angle ofopening of the top shell of the enclosure. This beneficial featureallows the handheld device to be easily inserted and removed in theenclosure without damage to either the internal plug or the jack on thehandheld electronic device. The external jack and the internal plug areoffset from one another so that the length of the entire case isminimized. In addition, additional external jacks can be provided sothat more than one accessory can be plugged into the handheld electronicdevice simultaneously. In addition, a belt clip is provided that has aflange for winding the cord of an accessory, such as the cord forearbuds, around the flange to hold the wiring in a secure manner whennot in use.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, andother modifications and variations may be possible in light of the aboveteachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the inventionin various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims beconstrued to include other alternative embodiments of the inventionexcept insofar as limited by the prior art.

1. A protective enclosure for a handheld electronic device having aninteractive control panel comprising: an upper shell and a lower shellthat are hingedly connected, said upper shell and said lower shellenclosing said handheld electronic device, said handheld electronicdevice being a separate unit from said protective enclosure, saidhandheld electronic device being insertable in and removable from saidenclosure by hand, said shell being substantially submersibly watertightwhen closed, said enclosure having at least one hinge pivot stop thatconstrains opening of said upper shell to a maximum predetermined angle;a protective membrane connected to said upper shell, said membrane beingsufficiently thin to permit smooth interactive tactile control of saidcontrol panel of said handheld electronic device; an adapter disposedwithin said protective enclosure, said adapter having an internalconnector that is capable of electrically connecting to said handheldelectronic device, said adapter having an external connector that iscapable of being electrically connected to an accessory for saidhandheld electronic device, said internal connector being electricallyconnected to said external connector so that when said accessory iselectrically connected to said external connector said accessory is alsoelectrically connected to said internal connector and to said handheldelectronic device; and an elastomeric covering that covers andsubstantially surrounds said internal connector and said externalconnector of said adapter, said elastomeric covering holding saidinternal connector and said external connector in place within saidprotective enclosure, said elastomeric covering permitting said internalconnector to tilt within a predetermined range of angles so that saidinternal connector easily connects to said handheld electronic devicewhen said handheld electronic device is inserted into said protectiveenclosure within said predetermined range of angles, said elastomericcovering maintaining said protective enclosure substantially submersiblywatertight when said handheld electronic device is enclosed within saidprotective enclosure.
 2. The protective enclosure of claim 1 furthercomprising: a belt clip that attaches to a back side of said protectiveenclosure, said back side of said protective enclosure being oppositesaid protective membrane, said belt clip having a deflectable cliprelease that engages with a retainer that is connected to said back sideof said protective enclosure so that when said clip release is notdeflected said belt clip securely attaches to said protective enclosure,said belt clip being releasable from said enclosure by deflecting saidclip release so that it disengages from said retainer, said belt cliphaving a flange around which a user may wind a cable of an accessory ofsaid handheld electronic device around said belt clip, said flangeretaining said cable close to said enclosure and preventing said cablefrom becoming entangled.
 3. The enclosure of claim 2 wherein saidenclosure has an elevated protective rim substantially surrounding aperimeter edge of said interactive flat-panel control.
 4. The enclosureof claim 3 wherein said enclosure is made of a rigid material andwherein said enclosure substantially surrounds said handheld electronicdevice and wherein said enclosure is larger that said handheldelectronic device so that said enclosure is crush-resistant and saidenclosure substantially protects said handheld electronic device frombreakage caused by crushing forces.
 5. A protective enclosure for ahandheld electronic device having an interactive control panelcomprising: at least two shell members that are hingedly connected, thatenclose said handheld electronic device, said handheld electronic devicebeing a separate unit from said protective enclosure, said handheldelectronic device being insertable in and removable from said enclosureby hand, said shell members forming said protective enclosure and beingsubstantially submersibly watertight when closed; a protective membraneconnected to at least one of said shell members, said membrane allowingtactile control of said control panel of said handheld electronicdevice; an internal connector that connects to said handheld electronicdevice when said handheld device is inserted in said protectiveenclosure; an external connector that connects to an accessory for saidhandheld electronic device and said internal connector so that saidaccessory can be connected to said handheld electronic device throughsaid protective case; and an elastomeric covering that covers andsubstantially surrounds said internal connector and said externalconnector, said elastomeric covering holding said internal connector andsaid external connector in place in said protective enclosure, saidelastomeric covering permitting said internal connector to tilt within apredetermined range of angles so that said internal connector easilyconnects to said handheld electronic device when said handheldelectronic device is inserted into said protective enclosure within saidpredetermined range of angles, said elastomeric covering maintainingsaid protective enclosure substantially submersibly watertight when saidhandheld electronic device is enclosed within said protective enclosure.